I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new album from American Aquarium and was an early sign-up to the bands Kickstarter campaign that launched back in November of last year, the album officially gets released on August 28th but I’ve being lucky enough to get a heads-up copy from the bands PR folks and I can report back it’s a real killer release and is bound to figure on the end-of-year best-of lists.

Those familiar with some of the bands earlier releases, all of which I heartily recommend (but if you have to pick one go for Dances for the Lonely) will know the band can mix it with the very best alt-country barroom bands, on this release though they distil the passion and pain, love, loss, the highs, the lows and in-betweens (tenuous link) of a band living the rock ‘n’ roll dream at the dark end of the street.

Recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with Beat Surrender favourite Jason Isbell producing and featuring guest appearances from the legendary Spooner Oldham & Amanda Shires, it’s a real treat to listen start-to-finish, the band from Raleigh, North Carolina have released their finest album yet and I really hope this one, their sixth in six years gains them a wider audience.

Keep an eye on the wonderful CFR for an upcoming American Aquarium feature, or better still sign up for the newsletter which keeps you up-to-date and gives you access to some extras from the featured artists too.

After another fantastic year of music it’s time to turn my attention to 2012, here’s a few that I’m looking forward to.

Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur
Lucero – to be announced
Paul Weller – Sonik Kicks
Craig Finn – Clear Heart Full Eyes
Franz Nicolay – Do the Struggle
Ellen & The Escapades – to be announced
Mark Lanegan Band – Blues Funeral
Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
The Lemonheads Hotel Sessions
The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever Know
Damien Jurado – Maraqopa
Bruce Springsteen – to be announced
Gaslight Anthem – to be announced
Woody Guthrie Project – Jay Farrar,Anders Parker,Will Johnson and Jim James
Vanessa Peters – to be announced
The Arlenes – to be announced
Sons of Bill – to be announced
American Aquarium – Burn Flicker Die
Wrinkle Neck Mules – Apprentice to Ghosts
Hall of Ghosts – A Random Quiet
Bruce Springsteen – Electric Nebraska (30 years since the ‘original’ so you never know)